Resuscitator.



T E. ACKLEN.

RESUSCITATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1915.

Ll'L 113161116111311. 14,1916.

' third side.

amarres Parana* @FFME THOMAS ENGLEMN' .ACKLE1\T, OF MEMPHIVIIS, TENNESSEE.

RESUS-CITATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pateted M2313 14, 1916.

Application leld .Tune 21, 1915. Serial No. 35,312.

To all whom t may] concern: n

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. ACKLEN,

a citizen of the United States, and a resi-v dent of Memphis, in the countyof vShelby and State of Tennessee, have invented an Improvement in Resuscitators, of which the following is a specication.

My invention 1s an lmprovement 1n resuscitators, and the vinvention has, for its,

be secured in place on the upper portlon of the abdomen vand adjacent portion of the stomach, for moving the wall of the abdomen outward and inward, in a manner simulating respiration, in order to restore the function of breathing.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a lside view showing the device in use, Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 isa section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The present embodiment of the inventionl comprises a rbase 1, formed from a sheet of rubber or like elastic material, and of suitable width andlength, and a portion of the sheet at the center thereof is partially separated from the sheet to form a valve 2. This valve is of rectangular form, being lseparated from the sheet on three sides, as' clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the valve being connected to the sheet at the A substantially rectangular frame 3 is arranged on the outer face of the sheet at the opening 4 formed by the valve 2, and this frame, as shown',' is yof considerable length, the walls thereof being rightrectangula'r in cross section. The bottom and the inner face of the frame are, as shown in Figs. 2 and- 3, of equal width, and the outer face 5 is concave. The frame and the valve are of such relative dimensions, that the valve may be moved freely within the frame, yet the edges of the opening 4 will be at the inner face of theframe. In other Words the opening 4 is of the same area as the cross section of the frame `3. One end of a tapering frusto-conical bellows 6 is connected with the end of the frame 3 remote from the sheet. The opposite en'd of the bellows ,is connected to a plate 7, the said plate being of a size to t within the bellows 6, and a sheet orplate 8 of rubber is arranged on the outer face of the plate 7 '-v A handle 9 in the form of a bail is`- sei' cured to the sheets 7 and 8, by means of rivets 10 or the'like, and valve casings 11,A are arranged at each side of Hthe handle, in openings in the sheets 7 and 8. Each valve casmg is 1n the form ofv acap, having its closed end 12 outward, and each of the closed ends is provided with a central port or passage 13. Each valve casing is provided with a transverse'diaphragm'l. intermediate its ends, and each diaphragm has a central tapering seat, with which cooperates a ball valve 15. The valve moves in a compartment' formed between the closed outer end 12 and the diaphragm 14, and the' said valves permit the air to move outward freely from the casing formed by e the bellows and the frame, but prevent the entrance of air. Each valve casing is flanged outwardly, at its ends as indicated at 16, the said ianges engaging remote faces of the sheets 7 and 8, to hold the caslngs from movement longitudinally. The small end of the bellows is extended over the side edges of the sheets and beyond the outer face of the sheet 8`, and the material of the bellows is then lapped upon the outer face of the sheet as indicated at 17. In pract1ce, the sheet 8 is vulcanized in place and is connected to the bellows by vulcanizing or Ain any suitable manner. The frame 3 is also of vulcanized rubber, and strips 18 of leather or the like are connected at onev end to one side edge of the sheet 1. It' will be noticed that the said sheet is of greater `area than the frame, and'eXtends beyond the frame at all sides thereof, and preferably thesheet is provided near each side edge with a reinforcing rib 19 integral with the sheet. These ribs extend parallel with the side edges, but in spaced relation, and it will be noticed from an inspection of Figs.v

2 that the strips 18 are secured to the sheet outsidevof the adjacent rib. Each strip is provided at its free end with a longitudinally extending series of openings 20, and these openings are designed to be engaged by hooks 21 secured to the'opposite side edge of the sheet. Three strips are shown, but it is obvious that as many strips may be used as may be thought necessary or advisable.

In use, the device is arranged,as'shown in Fig. 1, being placed on'the body of the y.

patient over the pit 'of the stomach, and extending down over the abdomen. `The patient is laid upon his back as shown, and

preferably the shoulders are elevated slightly so as to hold the neck straight. The strips are secured -in place, vice snugly tothe patient, and afterthe device is secured, as above mentioned, the bellows are expanded by pulling upward on the handle 9. When the handle is moved upward to.' expand the bellows it will be obvious thatl the abdomen wall will be moved with the/Hap valve 2.' A downward pressure is then made on the bellows by means ,of the handle 9, and as the bellows contracts a portion of the air in the casing i`sdriven out pastthe valve 15. l'This movement vis continued at regular intervals, until respiration is restored. Wheneverthe bellows is expanded, the abdomen wall beingv pulled outward will cause the diaphragm to move downwardly, thus expanding the lungs, and air will rush into the lungs through the air passages. When the bellows is contracted the flap valve 2 is forced downwardly making pressure on the abdomen wall, and forcing up the diaphragm` thus drivingr out the air from the lungs. The movement may be made to closely simulate natural respiration, and it will be evident that the device may A device of the .character specified, comy prising a sheet of flexible -elastic material having means for securing vthe sheetf'to the body of the person operated upon, said sheet having a central opening, a frame encircling the opening and secured to the outer face of the sheet, a bellows having one end -connected to the frame, a plate closing the outer end of the bellows and having a handle, said plate having` openings and valve casings in the openings, and a check valve in each casing, each 'valvecasing being tubular and having its outer end closed and provided with a central bore, and having a transverse diaphragm provided with a bore, and a ball valve coperating with the bore.

THOMAS ENGLEMAN ACKLEN. 

